Dental hygiene students A. Amies and H. Gray wrote in a recent Special to The Citizen that fluoridation of the city's water supply should be continued.
They cited the usual arguments in favour.
Allow me to mention some core concerns held by those who do not want to be forced to accept any type of medication in their tap water.
The FDA has classified hexafluorosilicic acid fluoride as a drug, although it is an industrial waste by-product polluted with traces of lead, mercury, and arsenic.
Chlorination of water is done to treat the water, fluoridation of water is done to treat patients. A drug must be prescribed only by a physician and there must be constant monitoring of the patient as to dosage and potential harmful side effects. Unfortunately this mandate is not being followed.
But, the issue has another big problem: Forcing people to ingest a substance which they object to for any reason is unethical and disrespectful of individual rights.
Freedom of Choice is a fundamental principle of our democracy. People fought for centuries to achieve it. Surely as future professionals who will be performing a very much appreciated health service to the community you would not wish to show disrespect for the very basic concept of Freedom of Choice by insisting that this controversial and potentially harmful chemical continues to be added to our otherwise pristine quality drinking water?
Werner Keseling
Prince George
